Regional AM Suzy Davies has accused Swansea Council’s Labour leadership of hypocrisy after hearing that the council has almost 500 employees on zero hours contracts.
Welsh Conservative Mrs Davies said: “Despite almost hysterical condemnation of businesses which operate with zero hours contracts by the party’s leader Jeremy Corbyn, it was quite a shock to discover that throughout Wales in councils controlled by Labour and Plaid Cymru, there are thousands of staff either on these contracts or classed as casuals with no guaranteed weekly hours. Swansea had 492 on zero hours contracts in the last year for which figures are available – 2016 to 2017. This is an increase from the 467 in 2014/15.
“Assembly members from both these parties have vehemently denounced these contracts but, it appears, are content for councils that they control to use them. When I have raised it in the Chamber, their outrage has evaporated, displaying their stance for the hypocrisy it is.
“The UK Government has taken steps to prevent exploitation, banning exclusive hours contracts, and has commissioned an inquiry into employment practices in the modern economy. Zero hours contracts do have a part to play in a modern, flexible Labour market provided that abuses are outlawed.”
The information was obtained by Welsh Conservatives from Welsh Councils using Freedom of Information requests.
Mae’r AC rhanbarthol Suzy Davies wedi cyhuddo arweinwyr Llafur Cyngor Abertawe o ragrith ar ôl canfod bod y cyngor yn cyflogi bron i 500 ar gontractau dim oriau.
Meddai Mrs Davies o’r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig: “Er gwaethaf condemniad hysterig Jeremy Corbyn, arweinydd y blaid, o fusnesau sy’n gweithredu contractau dim oriau, cefais dipyn o shiglad o weld bod gan gynghorau ledled Cymru sydd dan reolaeth Llafur a Phlaid Cymru, filoedd o staff naill ai ar gontract dim oriau neu’n weithwyr achlysurol heb oriau wythnosol gwarantedig. Roedd gan Abertawe 492 o weithwyr ar gontract dim oriau yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf y mae ffigurau ar gael ar ei chyfer – 2016-2017. Ffigur sydd wedi cynyddu o 467 yn 2014/15.
“Mae Aelodau Cynulliad o’r ddwy blaid honno wedi condemnio’r contractau hyn yn hallt, ond mae’n ymddangos eu bod nhw’n hapus i’r cynghorau a reolir ganddynt i’w defnyddio nhw. Pan godais y mater yn y Siambr, diflannodd eu dicter, sy’n profi bod eu safiad yn rhagrith pur.
“Mae llywodraeth y DU wedi cymryd camau i atal achosion o gam-fanteisio, gwahardd contractau dim oriau ac wedi comisiynu ymchwiliad i arferion cyflogaeth yn yr economi fodern. Mae lle i gontractau dim oriau yn y farchnad Lafur fodern, hyblyg, cyn belled â’n bod ni’n gwahardd achosion o gamddefnyddio’r system.”
Cafodd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig y wybodaeth hon gan gynghorau Cymru, trwy gyfrwng ceisiadau Rhyddid Gwybodaeth.